- Massachusetts Department of Transportation
September has arrived, bringing cooler weather, the beginning of fall sports and activities, and new school routines. Despite the busy days of September, don’t forget to buckle up and stay safe.
Studies show that using lap and shoulder seat belts saves lives. Unfortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates nearly half of all children passengers are not riding in correctly installed car seats for their size and age. With proper use, car seats, booster seats, and seat belts reduce crash injuries and fatalities among children. Click here for more information. Ensuring that children are correctly buckled in the right seat for their age and size can make a difference in your child’s safety. Take the time to check your vehicle for proper use of a child safety restraint. Watch for local events during Child Passenger Safety Week: September 15-21 for “Seat Check” events where trained volunteers can answer questions about the proper use of appropriate car seats and booster seats.
NHTSA provides helpful resources online to make child passenger safety easier for parents and caregivers. Visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/car-seats-and-booster-seats for everything you need to know about car seats.
Important car seat tips:
- Read the instructions. Before installing a car seat, read the car seat instruction manual and the vehicle owner’s manual. These documents contain critical information about correct car seat installation in your vehicle. Skipping steps or misusing equipment can have serious consequences. To get expert help installing your car seat, a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can help you for free.
- Use the tether on forward-facing car seats. Securing the tether is an essential step when installing a forward-facing car seat. It prevents the car seat from moving forward in a crash and may prevent head injury. Read your vehicle owner’s manual to find the correct tether anchor location.
- Don’t rush to the next seat. Moving children to the next type of car seat before they’re ready leaves them vulnerable in a crash. Keep your kids in the right seat as long as possible for their age and size.
- Keep children under 13 in the back seat. Riding in the front seat is not safe for kids. Air bags in the front seat are designed for adult passengers. All children under 13 should be buckled in the correct seat —always in the back seat. Never place a car seat in the front seat.
- Register car seats with the manufacturer. That way, in the event of a safety recall, the manufacturer will be able to notify the caregiver. NHTSA’s SaferCar app provides an easy way for parents and caregivers to save their vehicle and car seat details. The app will send the user a notification if any of their saved vehicles or car seats are included in a recall.
The importance of booster seats:
- Just like infant car seats are essential for babies, car seats and booster seats are equally necessary next steps.
- Booster seats are a necessary step between car seats and seat belts. Booster seats position the adult seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body to protect them in a crash.
- If a booster seat is the right seat for a child’s age and size, then that is the safest way for them to be protected in a crash. Children should stay in a booster seat until a seat belt fits correctly.
Seat belts for big kids:
- When a child is ready to use a seat belt, check to make sure the seat belt lies across the child’s upper thighs and is snug across the shoulder and chest. Seat belts should never rest on the stomach area or across the face or neck.
- Be sure children do not place the shoulder strap behind their backs. In a crash, a child could be seriously injured if the shoulder belt isn’t in the correct place. When driving with children, caregivers should check periodically to make sure they’re still buckled correctly.
Seat belts are the best defense against unsafe driving conditions. By wearing your seat belt while driving, you significantly improve your safety in the event of a collision. Keep this in mind the next time you get in the car, whether it’s driving your child to school or commuting to work. It’s important to set a good example for your children and to practice safe driving habits. Stay safe and always buckle up before your next ride!
The MAPFRE Insurance-sponsored MassDOT Highway Assistance Program is on patrol to help all motorists, including motorcyclists, on the highways. Patrol operators monitor some of the state’s busiest highways around Metro Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Cape Cod (seasonal). The Highway Assistance Patrol covers 13 major state roadways and interstates, the Emergency Service Patrol covers the Mass Pike (I-90) from New York to Boston and the Incident Response Operators cover the Metropolitan Highway System and tunnels. The Highway Assistance Patrol is in service Monday–Friday between 6 a.m.–10 a.m. and 3 p.m.–7 p.m. During holidays, there are extended routes in heavy-traffic areas. On I-90, and in Boston’s tunnel system, assistance is provided 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Written by,
Your friends at MAPFRE Insurance
